Life events come and go. Some are relived because of their grandeur; others come as one time experience. Howbeit, they leave us with loads of impressions to cherish and savour them again and again. This was the uncommon scenario that filled the air in Southern Kaduna and its environs as the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan had the honour to celebrate her Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Julius Yakubu Kundi, as he clocked five years in his Episcopacy on 20th February 2025.

 It was an event that reawakened the hopes of the people, comparable to the first the Diocese had at the public announcement from the airwaves of the Vatican News Office in Rome on 10th July 1995 when her first Bishop, Most Rev Joseph Danlami Bagobiri of blessed memory was nominated; and the renewed vigour at the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Kundi.

The desired aura for the celebration was invoked at the Cathedral of St. Peter Claver, Kafanchan, where the Liturgical Assembly gathered in wait of the celebrant. It was a Congregation with a full representation of the Universal Church in her peculiar nature with Bishops, Priests, Religious and the Laity in their ranks. The Vice President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria and the Metropolitan of Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Man’Oso Ndagaso, was present; in the company of the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, who doubled as the homilist of the day; the Bishop of Lafia Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. David Ajang; the Auxiliary Bishop of Minna, Most Rev. Dr. Sylvester Luka Gopep, Bishops’ Representatives and Priest from within and outside the Diocese were in attendance.

Being a Mass of thanksgiving, Bishop Julius Yakubu Kundi welcomed the august assembly and invited everyone to share in his joy on the wonders God has been working through him in the Diocese of Kafanchan these past five years. This evoked the emotions that blended with the incense that ascended to the throne of God with the specific intention of the Diocese. It aroused the people to prayer in a solemn celebration that kept everyone in awe of the moments as they went by.

In his homily, Bishop Kukah congratulated Bishop Kundi on the success of his Episcopal Anniversary and the courage he had to wear the crown. He commended his laudable achievements and his contributions to the development of Southern Kaduna. For him, Southern Kaduna has often produced good public servants who have honourably ascended the public civil service with impeccable character. He appraised the works of the Missionaries for the education they brought to their land. With this, he laid great emphasis on the necessity of education and called on all and sundry to take this as a matter of urgency. He equally commended Bishop Kundi for the investments he is making in the education industry. He concluded that education is the magic wand that will liberate the people of Southern Kaduna from the slavery of the mind and the mediocre mindset.

His call resonated with the purpose of the visit of the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party and former Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Obi. Although Peter Obi was scheduled to be part of the Bishop’s anniversary as Special Guest, he paid the Diocese and the Bishop a visit on the morning of 19th February 2025 because of unforseen logistics beyond his immediate control.

The rendezvous for his meeting with the Bishop was at the construction site of the Bishop Bagobiri Memorial College, Kafanchan where he was received by Bishop Kundi; the Vicar General Administration of the Diocese, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Abba Biliyock; the Vicar Pastoral, Very Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Faweh Kazah; the Diocesan Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Jacob Shanet; the Chairman of the Education Commission, Very Rev. Fr. Ibrahim Bawa Yakubu; the Dean of the Deanery and the Director of Lands and Building, Very Rev. Fr. Douglas Rock; Principal of the School, Rev. Fr. Festus Livinus Didam; and a handful of other Priests, Religious and Laity of the Diocese.

In his introductory and welcome remarks, Bishop Julius Yakubu Kundi acknowledged the efforts of His Excellency Peter Obi at the building of bridges across communities and establishing relationships, coupled with his love for education. He stressed that the ongoing construction of 15 classrooms and administrative blocks with two laboratories are part of the Church’s commitment to providing quality education to children, especially victims of insecurity and instability in the country. The school is intended to be a unity school that is open to people across regions and denominations, especially children from the rural areas.

During his speech, His Excellency Peter Obi emphasized that quality education is key for meaningful development of any nation. It is because of this that he defied the insecurity and any inconvenience to travel down to Kafanchan rather than just invite the School Management to Abuja for discussions.

In his words, “I was a student in a school like yours, a Catholic school that was headed by a priest. By the grace of God, I was a Governor for eight years, and today, I am what I am”. He encouraged the Students and Staff not to relent in their quest for quality education, stating that he was once like them and that they too will be greater than him one day.

Delivering the vote of thanks, the Education Commission Chairman, Very Rev. Fr. Ibrahim Yakubu appreciated His Excellency’s love for and dedication to education which he demonstrated during his tenure as Anambra State Governor when he returned former Private and Mission Schools to their initial owners, and also supported them financially. He thanked His Excellency for honouring the Diocese with his presence and wished him God’s protection and journey mercies back to Abuja.

More so, the occasion registered the presence of the sons and daughters of the land of the various religious, political, ethnic and social divides. In his speech, Bishop Kundi notably acknowledged the Metropolitan, the Bishops and their representatives, the Chairman of SKCLA, the CAN President, Southern Kaduna Block, Priests, Religious, all Clergy from other Denominations, Representative of the State Governor, the Distinguished Senator of Zone 3 Kaduna State and all political leaders, the Guests, Royal Fathers, the Father and Mother of the Day, Catechists, Seminarians, Knights and their Ladies and indeed all God’s people present. He emphasized on the need for broader collaboration on issues of concerns in Southern Kaduna by which we could “liberate our people from the shackles of poverty, ignorance, and all oppressive forces” through “our solidarity, resilience and the pursuit of justice”.

He further affirmed: “The situation of our people has not improved in this past 5 years” despite our seeming growth in population. This means that “there is increasing feeling of being abandoned and insecure, despondency and hopelessness that are setting in and are already affecting the psyche of our people thereby making them to derail and turn to unholy behaviours that are unbecomingly of human”. As such, “they need to be guided on how to navigate through these traumatizing moments they are facing to a more decent and just way of life.”

Cadiokaf Communications thank God for his blessings and providence upon the Diocese, the Bishop, Priests, Religious and the Laity, also congratulate and celebrate with the Chief Shepherd, for the many remarkable achievements recorded in the last five years of his Episcopacy in Kafanchan, and the beautiful prospects he has earmarked to achieve in the years to come. Also asked God to grant him the patience and wisdom to guide the flock entrusted to his care, and to bestow on him the requisite wisdom needed to lead the Diocese to greater heights.